Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google+ may get more attention than Snapchat, but do not discount the social media service’s ability to provide a quality niche in your marketing plans. Social media is recognized as a powerful force in brand management, understanding each platform and incorporating them appropriately into your marketing engagement is important. Learn how many brands are using Snapchat in a more personal way than other social media platforms.
Snapchat’s Allure
One of the fastest growing social media platforms on the planet with 100 million active daily users with over 400 million snaps a day, its largest demographic is the younger crowd, 18-34 year olds. However, because of its recent development of Snapchat Stories, it is becoming indispensible as a story board for companies and brands. As it grows it might take over even more of this space.
Snapchat was initially successful because it provided a messaging platform for sending pictures that would “self-destruct.” Snapchat now offers pictures and video capture of up to 10 seconds to be sent which then will “self-destruct” within 10 seconds. With Snapchat Stories however, the entire platform became an amazing opportunity for branding. Stories allow you to craft a story board of multiple messages that remain on your feed for 24 hours. This allows you to provide different and unique stories on a daily basis surrounding different aspects of your company or brand. All of your ‘friends’ then receive your Stories broadcast as they are posted, providing a great broadcast platform.
The Fashion Industry
One of the first major industries to jump in and see the potential of Snapchat Stories was the Fashion Industry. Burberry has been using Snapchat to engage its loyal followers and reward them with great content. By posting stories during their 2016 Spring Campaign shoot, followers of the brand get an inside look of the photo shoot and a first look at the fashion icon’s spring products.
Wet Seal also took to Snapchat, but collaborated with an influencer in the fashion industry to get access to their hundreds of thousands of followers. With stories posted through the influencer and their own feed an integrative story was able to capture their audience.
Large Chains
Many large chain stores and multinationals with a younger skewed demographic are also cashing in on the platform’s unique and successful version of a newsfeed. Instead of being bombarded with a newsfeed that can trail off into the past for years, Snapchat’s Stories provide a succinct and powerful way to present individual segments and stories. From McDonald’s Super Bowl snap and tweet fest to Taco Bell’s 2015 Snapchat Valentine-ograms, the large corporations have realized the power of connecting with users in the “here and now.”
From National to Local
Smaller businesses are also starting to see the value in the ability to reach out to local demographics as well. From providing an “inside look” into operations of the company with behind the scenes stories on special projects to providing a local coupon or discount opportunity that is only good for 24 hours. The use of Snapchat can help you connect with your audience on a more intimate basis providing different marketing opportunities than Facebook or Twitter.
Are you reaching your demographic when they are thinking about you?